Teacher Qualifications & Evaluations

Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) Plan

What is APPR?

APPR stands for Annual Professional Performance Review, and it is the process by which teachers and principals are evaluated in New York State. In 2010, as a result of the federal Race To The Top (RTTT) education initiative, teacher and principal evaluation plans must adhere to more rigid rules set by the state. Plans must also be submitted and approved by the NYS Education Department, and for the first time ever, a portion of the evaluations is directly tied to student performance on state exams or other state-approved learning measures.

The goal of APPR is as one pillar (Common Core Curriculum is another) of the larger federal Race to the Top education reform initiative that aims to improve the quality of instruction in our schools and, in turn, improve student performance and college-and career-readiness. The APPR requirements aim to provide standardized, objective evaluation results, which can be used to better focus professional development for teachers and principals. According to the State Education Department, “The purpose of the evaluation system is to ensure that there is an effective teacher in every classroom and an effective leader in every school.”

APPR Plan

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) Educator Evaluation Plans page lists New York State school districts and BOCES with approved teacher and principal evaluation plans under Education Law §3012-d and the newer §3012-e (STEPS) framework. It serves as an official reference showing which districts’ evaluation systems are approved and the dates of approval.

View the district’s APPR Plan on the NYSED website.

APPR Teacher and Principal Effectiveness Scores

Under APPR, teachers and principals receive a number grade every year, which translates to an effectiveness rating. The APPR process is governed by the state and aligns with New York state teaching and leadership standards, but each school district develops its own evaluation plan within those guidelines. Because of this, each district’s APPR plan is different, so APPR scores cannot be compared from district to district.

How to Request Teacher and Principal Effectiveness Scores

While APPR scores are not considered public information and are not FOILable, state leaders have agreed that teachers’ and principals’ composite APPR ratings may be released to parents or guardians upon request and verification of identity, and only for their child’s current teachers and principal. Teachers may be notified by a district administrator that parents have requested their effectiveness score.

To Request an Effectiveness Score, Please Follow These Steps:

1. Download, print, and fill out the Request for Teacher or Principal Overall Composite Score & Effectiveness Rating Form (via Google Drive). This form is also available in the main office of your child’s school.
2. Bring the request form to the main office of the school along with identification. We will need your ID because the main office must verify that you are the parent or legal guardian of the student before they can release the score of that student’s teacher or principal.
3. A district staff member will be in contact with you after your request is processed to detail how the composite score(s) and an explanation of such ratings will be delivered to you.

Scores will not be finalized and certified with the state until October 18. Requests to release scores will be processed at that time. Depending on the number of requests received, the amount of time this takes could vary.

Understanding Student Growth Scores & Teacher Effectiveness Scores

Watch an Engage NY video to learn how student scores on state assessments factor into teacher effectiveness scores.

Teacher Qualifications

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), parents/guardians have the right to know the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teachers, including:

• Whether a teacher has state certification for the grade levels and subjects he or she is teaching;
• Whether a teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived;
• Whether the teacher is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher;
• Whether their child receives services from paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications; and
• Whether their child has been taught for four or more weeks in a row by a teacher “who does not meet applicable state certification or licensure requirements at the grade level and subject area in which the teacher has been assigned.”

Testing Information:

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), parents/guardians have the right to know specific information about the required assessments their child will take. These assessments include:

NYS Assessments

• In the spring of each school year, Students in grades 3-8 take
• The NYS Assessment for English Language Arts
• The NYS Assessment for Mathematics
• Grades 5 and 8 also take the NYS Science Assessment
• New York State Regents Exams
• New York State Checkpoint A and B exams (if applicable)

Our Local Benchmark Assessments

• Fountas and Pinnell Reading Assessment: Grades 1-4. This assessment is utilized to gauge student progress in reading. Levels are based on the complexity of reading passages and student success with them.
• iReady Assessment for ELA and math. This integrated system is utilized to monitor student achievement based on NYS standards. The data is utilized to assist teachers and intervention providers in creating a targeted learning plan to assist students in achieving standard mastery.
• Benchmark assessments are scheduled for universal screenings three times a year (September, January/February, and May/June) and usually take about 30-45minutes a session.
• Diagnostic exam and screening results are not included in the calculation of student grades. Parents/guardians who are interested in their child’s results of the screenings may issue a request to the child’s teacher.